“Gurmukhi Calligraphy: Aestheticization of the Gurmukhi Script”
The Gurmukhi script, sacred to Sikh heritage and the language of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, embodies a union of sound, form, and devotion. Originating under the guidance of Guru Nanak and the Sikh Gurus, it evolved from early Indic scripts such as Devanagari, Lahnda, Takri, and Sharada — not merely as a writing system but as a rachna, a divine creation designed to preserve the sacred word.
Through centuries of transformation, Gurmukhi adapted to new linguistic and cultural contexts, yet retained its spiritual essence. Today, it continues to inspire both traditional calligraphic practice and digital typography.
This book presents Gurmukhi as a visual and contemplative art form, where each curve, proportion, and circular motion of the qalam (reed pen) transforms script into image and text into meditation. The aestheticization of Gurmukhi thus reclaims its sacred presence — inviting the viewer to experience the written word as a bridge between the human and the Divine.

About Author

Ghulam Abbas is an Associate Professor at IISAT University, Gujranwala, Pakistan He holds a multifaceted academic background as he did BFA, and then MFA in Textile Design from the University of Peshawar, MA (Hons.) in Visual Art from National College of Arts, Lahore, and during his High School he learned the traditional art of Khattati (calligraphy). His areas of research are in calligraphy, history of Fashion, Muslim devotional arts and the popular visual Islamic culture of South Asia, which he formalized in his PhD (2014) on this subject from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India. He has been in touch with teaching and research for more than a couple of decades. He has taught different subjects related to fine art, design, art history, research methodology and cultural studies etc. at GIFT University, Gujranwala, and Superior University in Lahore. He has also presented papers at conferences both home and abroad, published papers and articles in newspapers and journals. He is the author of two books entitled "Tazias of Chiniot" and "Milad Festival in Labore and Delhi: Popular Visual Islamic Culture of South Asia which came out in 2007 and 2023 respectively. He has also developed his interest in writing of short stories.

ISBN 9789699147180